US, Allies Used Diplomatic Flights to Send Weapons to Terrorists

A Bulgarian reporter has uncovered evidence that the United States and its allies, notably Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have been using Azerbaijan’s Silk War Airlines to ferry entire planeloads of weapons to Syrian militants, some of which ended up in the hands of al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front.

Some 350 different flights, all labeled “diplomatic” flights to avoid being searched for weapons, were sent into the area, generally carrying arms purchased in Eastern Europe, so as to disguise the country that was actually sending them.

This was the mechanism through which the since ended CIA program to arm Syrian rebels was conducted, and they apparently encouraged both Saudis and the Emirates to use the same trick. Exact figures on weapons sent aren’t total clear, but the US sent around $1 billion worth of arms by themselves.

The US apparently favored this program so much that they didn’t confine it to Syria, with the report showing cargo planes under the same diplomatic auspices being sent to Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Exactly who was to be armed in those countries wasn’t clear.

It is clear, however, that this wouldn’t have been the method through which the US nor any other nation would legitimately convey arms deals or even military aid to other governments, and was specifically chosen because, despite the added cost, it was hoped that it would allow the shipments and deliveries to happen in secret.

Silk Road Airlines also apparently favored this scheme themselves, having “offered diplomatic flights to private companies and arms manufacturers from the US, Balkans, and Israel, as well as to the militaries of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and the military forces of Germany and Denmark in Afghanistan and of Sweden in Iraq.”

Azerbaijan’s government was apparently well aware of this, and their foreign ministry was sending orders to their embassies across the region to ensure that the planes were given diplomatic clearance to fly “dangerous” materials through foreign airspace without a permit.

And it worked. Despite legal restrictions on carrying military cargo on civilian aircraft, the Azeri government managed to get diplomatic clearance for these planes that gave them an effective corridor across Europe and including Turkey. This gave the planes access to arms markets in Eastern Europe and arms-hungry wars in the Middle East and beyond.

While the revelations in Syria are likely old news, since the CIA’s failed arms program was already scrapped, it’s not clear that this isn’t still an ongoing means of arms smuggling for the US or its allies elsewhere. The revelation could be particularly embarrassing in Afghanistan, as there aren’t third parties to arm there who aren’t explicitly enemies of the US.

In buying non-US standard weapons, even when these arms ended up in the wrong hands, which at times may well have been the intended hands in the first place, there was some distance between the arms and the nations providing them. With most of Eastern Europe still selling Soviet-era surplus, this may well explain, for instance, why the Taliban has suddenly been seen with at least some such arms, with US officials trying to shift suspicion about that to Russia.

Clearly, though, there’s no way to prove the US sent those specific arms to the country and that’s the point. These smuggled arms stand in stark contrast to the massive, and at least nominally documented, official arms shipments the US is sending across the world at all times, and are meant to fly under the radar.

Love stories like this. In such cases it is best to remember — consider the source.
Bulgaria is our colony and there is no such thing as “independent” journalism. Second — the Balkan route and East European routes were well documented before. Thoroughly. So what is new? Implicate Azerbaijan? How laughable are neocon tricks lately. Azerbaijan is the thorn in their side. It is a Shia country that has by now fully integrated into Iranian and Russian regional cooperation on Syria. It currently also works with Turkey on the same problem. Anybody can arrange diplomatic flights with a private airline, so this remains murky. If I were to guess it is to point to Russia, and divert atrention from real issues. It is aimed to cause a bit of delicious internal strife in Azerbaijan, with some Soros types screaming government corruption. It is clear who the recepients are in Pakistan. Family Butto is up to old tricks, and “judiciary” removed President Sharif — same game as in Brazil and Venezuela, as well as Macedonia. It will backfire as anythingvelse neocons do. As they are always after the most short term gains — the blow back is usually the long term reallignment of their targets. Way too many tricks have been played on Azerbaijan, and it departed into Russia-China-Iran direction. Stirring things up may be usefull for short term confusion. But who in Azerbaijan believes that a Shia country would supply wewpons to crazed Sunni cults that are killing Shia from Afghanistan to Syria? Much in this story raises questions, but it is definitely something else then meets the eye.

So Bianca, are you saying that this story is really just a load of bunk.??? That these diplo-flights have becum the “regular” means of supply to irregular forces we want to see prevail, but not acknowledge OUR support. It would be a very serious crime here, but it’s “Supplying material support to terrorists” the American newly invented criminalization of ordinary commerce with those that they find objectionable.. I wonder how this is going werk out in Pakistan, amongst the chaos of the president being deposed… Let’s all pray that Imron Khan takes over and ends the colonial puppets that have made the mess there… Let’s hope he is what he says he is and appears to be….

Forgive me if I react extremely negativelly to the word “oppress”. This word has been tainted beyond redemption by Soros-neocon globalist snakes. I am very sure that people in Azerbaijan live their daily lives without being aware that some good souls find it in their calculating hearts to protect from “oppression”. Seen way too much of this kind of rubbish — and predictably in all cases where demonization of an too independent minded country has been prescribed. As far as being on good terms with Turkey, that is a good thing, not bad. It can only help when Shia and Sunni countries set example of good relations. Saudi and Israeli hyperventilation about Shia menace looks stupid. As for the origins of any government — apply Forrest Gump principle. It is what it does. And joining SCO on a partner level jointly with Srmenia is not a bad thing. Being part of Iranian-Russian naval manuevers in Caspian Sea, indicates desire to be regionally integrated, and not seeking dar away neicon lands to mediate their affairs. Not a bad thing. And holding back its nationalists from reacting to multiple Nagorno-Kharabak hissy fits — not bad as well. Coordinating with Armenia — not bad. On the other hand vampires just try to poke at any historic grievances to keep the natives riled up. Watch the “outrage” now pour out from the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Reminds me if the time when Erdigan and Armenia agreed to set up a joint commission of historians to review the contentious issue of Armenian expulsion from Turkey at the end of WWI. France decided conveniently to vote on Armenian genocide, stirring up nationalists in Turkey, and tying hands of all that wanted to improve relations and open borders for trade and tourism.

This is just another muddle. As everyone knows from previus extensive research how US and Saudi/UAE transfered arms from East Europe to various militants — what is new here? Try to implicate Azerbaijani government, stir up protests, throw in some “intelligence” — and see what happens. With a bit of luck some hungry opposition can be bribed enough to have some good pictures of “popular resistance” to “brutal regime” hit our glibalist media. But iit was all seen in Turkey before. The only thing that makes me laugh is the starring role of a Bulgarian journalist”. Neocons overthought this one.

For the few folks in this country that know what is going on this is OLD NEWS. That’s ONE of the reasons why Libya was destroyed. Hillary/State Dept. were sending weapons from ISIS/AL-QAEDA in Libya to ISIS/ AL-QAEDA in Syria. But like always were told your wrong, conspiracy nut, American hater etc… but again we’re right. Anyone with half a brain would have to ask where is ISIS getting their war material. They don’t have an armaments industry so where are the tanks and mortar and trucks and ammo and everything else that you would need for sustain fighting for years .